( For 18+ Above)

I woke up to a loud noise and faint chatter coming from across the next building opposite our house. Normally, I don't get up from bed early on a Saturday, but this Saturday morning got me really pissed.
I rolled on my bed and took a pillow to cover my face; blocking my ears with it. I desperately wanted to catch more sleep, maybe for another hour or so, before I wake fully. But the sounds from outside still continued to filter into my ears.
'Urgh!...' I muffled my scream into the pillow and sat up. Then I raised my phone beside me and saw that it was just 7:15am.
"What the hell" I grumbled under my breath and placed my feet into the flip flop slippers lying on floor beside my bedpost. Then I stood up, wore a t-shirt on the short knicker I was wearing and walked out of my room.
"Good morning Mom" I greeted, forcing a smile on my face when I saw her standing near the palour window; looking through it with her right hand behind her waist. She was six months pregnant for a baby girl who was going to be my very first sibling.

I still remember four months ago when my mom walked into my room with a wide smile on her face.
"Henry, what are you reading?" She asked, leaning her left shoulder on my room doorpost.
"Just a novel" I placed the book beside me on the bed and studied her face. "Why do you have that smile on your face mom?"
Then she straightened herself with the smile broadening even more and said, "Your going to have a sister" with her shoulders shrugged in excitement.
I jumped up from the bed with my jaw dropped in pleasant surprise.
"Your pregnant mom?"
"Hm-mm" she hummed with a chuckle, look at me as I rushed forward to give her a hug.
"Have you told dad about it?" I grinned, pulling away from our hug.
"I will, when he gets back from work." said my mom as she playfully cupped my cheeks.
That was the happiest moment I could never forget so easily...

"Hey hun.. You're awake" said my Mom in a teasing voice as she turned to look at me. My dad was nowhere in the palour; probably gone out to the office. He worked six days a week at a real estate firm and was earning just enough to provide for us.
"Yeah --" I rolled my eyes in response and moved forward. "And what's with the noise outside?" I asked.
"Uh... I guess a family is moving into the house nextdoor." My mom answered, pointing her right thumb over her shoulders at the palour window.
"Oh no" I sighed in regrets and rushed past her for the window; looking through it to see what was happening outside.
I could see a haulage van parked at the frontage of the neighbouring building with a guy removing boxes and carrying them into the house.
"It's a good thing right?" asked my mom who stood behind me.
"Noo, it's not" I turned to face her with a frown. Nothing was good about them moving into the neighbouring house -- not for me. If there was anything I cherished so much, it was my peace and quiet. I wasn't the type that loved to mingle or have people around. Even at school, I would always keep to myself.
"Mom... You know there's nothing good about those people moving in."

"Maybe it's what you need son" My my countered softly and placed her right palm on my left cheek. Then a warm smile broke through her lips. "Atleast now, you have neighbours to talk with when you're bored. Instead of staying indoors all day."
"But am not complaining" I muttered with my face gradually turning red. "And besides.. my little sister is on the way -- I'll have her to converse with"
My mom laughed and said. "I know, I know... But look, all am saying is that you should come out of your comfort zone -- meet people, make friends, just build memory son. I mean, you're 19 and I've never seen your friends."
"Fine" I sighed, more than I'd like to admit with my head lowered. My mom was right, I had no friend because I was an introvert -- always shy talking and meeting with someone. Book for me was my only companion and friend whenever I was lonely, bored or depressed.
"Go say hi to the new neighbours" My mom's voice broke out in a tease; causing my heart to skip a beat as I quickly lifted my gaze on hers.
"No!" I exclaimed with a high pitched voice that expressed my nervousness.
"C'mon.. Just hi and that's all. You can offer to give them a hand or something to show that they are welcomed" My mom grinned, playfully poking my left shoulder before turning me around to face the direction of our front door.

"Uh -- um.." I protested, trying to bring my steps to a stop as my mom continued giving me gentle push towards our palour door. Then I planted my feet on the floor and turned to face her. "Why don't we uh... Go together -- you know, like a mother son thing" I suggested with a nervous smile. But my mom found my words to be rather funny than sensible.
"I know, but I want you to go first. I can always go later in the day to say hi to them" She said with an amused chuckle and spun me around; twisting the door handle open with her right hand before giving me an unexpected push out the doorway with her left hand behind my back.
'No no.. don't stare please' I groaned in my mind as I stood stiff in front of our house entrance; staring at the guy who was about my age as he paused to look at me. Then he waved his right hand and I immediately faked a smile on my face and waved back at him from where I stood; still struggling to decide whether or not to take up my mom's advice.
"Henry" My mom's low whispering voice called to me from the palour window. "aren't you going over?"

"I WILL!" I growled under clenched teeth with my lips barely moving as I responded. Even my cheeks began to burn in annoyance at my mom's pestering voice. And why in heaven's sake was she still looking through the palour window?!
"Okay. But I want to watch you leave before I go into the kitchen" Her voice broke out again in a low tease and this time, more annoying than the first.
My breathing began to intensify with mixed feelings of nervousness and rage; I mean, 'what was the point of making friends with them when I could just go about my daily routine and mind my business?' The worst thing was that I had no say -- no power to question my mom!
So I moved forward, walking sluggishly to meet the guy who wore a wide smile and straightened to face me.
"Hi" I managed to say, bringing my steps to a stop in front of him.
"I'm Brian by name" he chuckled and extended his right hand for a handshake. "And you're?
"Henry" I shook his hand briefly and pulled my hand back; dipping it into my knicker pocket.
"So you guys are urm... moving in?" I asked, pinching my right leg inside my pocket to remain calm when I realised how stupid my question was. Even a child could do better than what I'd just said!

"Yes we are" Brian smiled with a steady nod of his head. "And I think I like the quiet of this environment -- compared to our last place that..."
Brian was still talking when my attention drifted as I caught sight of a girl as she came out of their house and was moving towards our direction to probably carry another box inside.
"Hi" I forced myself to smile when our eyes met as she approached.
She didn't reply my friendly greeting but turned to face her brother Brian. "Mom said you should be quick taking these inside." Then she lifted a box and walked back into the house without saying a word to me.
I must confess, I felt a bit embarrassed by her cold act. But what do I care, after all, I've gotten so many cold treatment from numerous girls - especially in my class.
"That's my elder sister Nora, she can be a bit annoying at times" Brian said as if apologizing on behalf of his sister for her snubbish attitude.
"No, uh.. it's fine" I chuckled with a shrug of my shoulders; faking a smile as though his sister's action didn't get to me when infact it did -- deep down I felt humiliated, like I should never have listened to my mom in the first place.
"So errm.. do you mind helping me carry this into the house?" asked Brian in a polite tone.
"Ye--yeah.. sure, let me" I nodded in agreement before we bent forward to carry some boxes.
'I hope you're happy mom' I murmured in my heart as I walked, following behind Brian who led me into their house. I just had that consciousness that my mom was still watching me from our palour window.

****

I had just dropped the box I was holding on the tiled floor of their spacious empty palour when I turned my head and noticed Nora coming out of their kitchen entrance with the collar of her shirt slightly damp with sweat...

TO BE CONTINUED...

Did you have fun reading?? ... New chapter tomorrow.

Story by: Ceesong The Romance Author